Bail-holding device for lanterns



E. C. EVERETT.

BAIL HOLDING DEVICE FOR LANTERNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1919.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

U Q Q F H J UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ERNEST C. EVERETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASS IGNOR TO B. E.

DIETZ NEW YORK, N. Y.

BAIL-HGLDING DEVICE FOR LANTERNS.

Application filed May 8, 1919.

T (ZZZ 10. mm if may concern:

Be it known that I, EnNnsT C. EVERETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the count 1 of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvement in Bail-Holding Devices for Lanterns of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lanterns and more particularly to a device for use on railroad lanterns for releasably holding the carrying bail rigidly in its upright position so that the lantern can be manipulated or moved to various positions by means of the bail without swinging on the bail.

In lanterns of the type commonly known as railroad lanterns, the globe is surrounded by a frame or guard extending upwardly from the base portion of the lantern, and the top or upper portion of the lantern is hinged to the upger end of this guard or frame to swing to and from its normal position over the globe, so as to afford access to the globe and burner and permit the removal of the globe.

The object of the invention is to provide the movable top or upper portion of lanterns of this sort with one or more catches or devices of simple and inexpensive, but strong and durable construction, for releasably holding the bail rigidl I in its upright position, the holding device or devices prefera ly being arranged and constructed so that it or they is or are moved into and out of holding engagement with the bail by the closing and opening of the hinged top of the lantern.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a lantern provided with ball holding means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view showing the hinged top raised.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side. vlew of the same.

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan on line 5-5, Fig. 1, showing one of the holding devices.

The lantern shown in the drawings, as is common in railroad lanterns, comprises a frame or guard A which extends upwardly from the lantern surrounding and pro Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 295,662.

tecting the globe l3; and a to COMPANY, OF

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

p or upper portion C which is hinged in any suitable manner at one side, at c, to the u pper portion of the frame or guard A so that the top can be swung to and from its op erative position over the globe, with the chimney D, carried by the top, in engagement with the upper end of the globe. As usual,

is provided with a the hinged top suitable catch E adapted to engage the frame or guard for securing the hinged top 1n operative position.

The catch shown secured to the underside of and having a depending consists of a spring wire the hinged top finger-piece adapted to sprin into engagement with the top wire of the guard or leased by pressure on the represents the carrying ba which are hinged at any suitable way to lantern frame or swing up and frame and to be refiner-piece. F il, the legs of f at their lower ends in the opposite sides of the guarr. so that the bail can down, to and from the upright carrying position, thus permitting the bail to be turned down at one side of the lantern for convenience 1n packing.

As thus far described th common construction and structed as shown or of 01; usual construction.

represents a catch the hinged top C adapted to carrying bail F bail in its upright position. of these catches or holding ployed, located at lantern for eng in order to insure a stronger construction, but either one at one si e lantern is of may be conher suitable or or holding device on de thereof and engage the adjacent leg of the for releasably holding the Preferably two devices are en the opposite sides of the aging both legs of the bail and more rigid or two of the catches or holding devices can be employed,

as may be desired. The b ailholding devices 10 are rigidly or iinmovably secured or formed on the hinged top and each has a forked or slotted portion which extends toward and 1s adapted to straddle the adjacent leg of the carrying bail to hold the bail in upright position; of the holding devices con wire which is bent around of the lantern frame and erwise ri idly secured theret ends 12 of the wire spaced out from the edge of to straddle the ic of the bail.

the carrying bail is provide Preferably each sists of a stiff the air tube 11 is soldered or otho, with the two and projecting the hinged top so as The leg of d. with an outbend 13 of the leg, thebail is freed and can then beswung past the holding device to, and from its upright position. In order to secure the bail, the hinged top is released 7 and raised to the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 1 and the bail is then swung up until its legs are opposite the slots of the holding devices, and the hinged top is then closed and secured, the closing movement of the top moving th forked or slotted ends of the holding device downwardly so as to straddle the legs of the bail below the bends 13 thereof. The bail is released by raising the top until the holding devices register with the spaces formed by the bends 13 of the bail and the bail can then be swung downwardly. Thus'by the simple and easy manipulation of the hinged top and hail, the bail can be engaged with and disengaged from the holding devices which are rigid on the top. It will thus be apparent that holding devices rigid with the topand adapted to straddle or engage the legs of the bail can be constructed and rigidly secured or formed on thetop in various different ways.

The construction described forms a very rigid and sure holding means for the bail and the lantern can be carried and held by the bail and moved to various positions for signaling or other-purposes without danger of the holding devices being disengaged from the bail, loosened or broken by the manipulation of the lantern. The construction 1s thus very much more rigid, reliable 'and'durable than constructions in which the catch for the bail is hinged or movably 'mounted'on the lantern top and is engaged with and disengaged from thebail by swingmg or moving the catch or holdlng device.

Nevertheless the construction described is very simple and inexpensive.

[claim as my invention:

1. A lantern having a movable top, and a movable carrying bail, said top and bail being provided with cooperating parts rigid with said top and bail respectively and arranged to engage each other in the normal position of the top to hold the hail from movement, said parts being so arranged that they are moved into and out of engagement with each other by relative movements cf said top and-bail.

'2. In a lantern having a hinged upper frame portion which is movable to and from its normal position, and a pivoted bail, a

partwhich is rigid with said hinged frame portion and is arranged to en age said bail and hold it upright when saic hinged frame portion is in its normal position, said bail being so shaped that the movement of said hinged frame portion out of its normal position disen 'ages said rigid part from the bail. r

3. In a lantern having an upper frame portion which is movable ,to and from its normal position, and a movable bail, a slotted part whichis rigid with .said movable frame portion of the lantern and is arranged to straddle a leg of said bail and hold the bail upright when said upper portion of the lantern is in its normal position, said bail being so shaped that it is freed from said part .by moving saidupper portion of the lantern out of normal position.

at. In a lantern having a hin ed top, and

a pivoted carrying bail, a part which is rigid with said top and is arranged to engage said bail and hold it upright said bail having a portion extending outwardly laterally beyond said part, and said part being engaged with and disengaged from said bail by moving said hinged top.

5. In a lan ern having a hinged top, and a pivoted carrying bail, a bail-holding device consisting of a bent wire embracing a .part of said top and rigidly secured thereto and having spaced ends arranged to straddle a leg of said bailand hold the bail upright, said bail being freed from said holding device by moving said hinged top.

Witness my hand, this 2nd day of May,

ERNEST C. EVERETT. Witnesses:

Joan E. Dnrrz, F. NV. VAN DUYN. 

